US President Trump Broadens US Travel Restrictions; Adds 20 Countries And Palestinian Authority

US President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation expanding US travel restrictions, adding 20 countries and the Palestinian Authority to the list of affected nations.

The announcement marks a significant widening of limits on who may enter or immigrate to the United States.

The new measures place five countries under a full travel ban, while 15 others face partial restrictions. The US now completely restricts travel for individuals holding Palestinian Authority-issued documents.

Exemptions apply for holders of valid US visas, lawful permanent residents, diplomats, athletes, and certain other visa categories.

Entry may also be permitted if it serves US interests. The administration has not specified when the updated measures will take effect.

White House officials linked the expanded restrictions to national security, highlighting the recent arrest of an Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard troops near the White House over Thanksgiving weekend.

The proclamation cites issues such as corruption, unreliable civil documents, criminal records, high visa overstay rates, and instability in affected countries, which complicate vetting processes.

Updates to Previous Bans

This latest move builds on an original travel restriction introduced in June, which barred citizens of 12 countries from entering the US and placed partial limits on seven others.

Countries newly added to the full-ban list include Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria.

Partial restrictions now also apply to Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, the Ivory Coast, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Some adjustments to prior restrictions were also made. Laos and Sierra Leone moved from partial to full suspension, while Turkmenistan saw easing of certain limits due to improvements in documentation and compliance.

The updated rules go further for Palestinians, effectively barring holders of Palestinian Authority passports from emigrating to the US.

The proclamation cites ongoing activity by US-designated terrorist groups in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as weakened vetting and screening capabilities following the recent conflict.

Travel bans were a hallmark of Trump’s first term, generating protests, legal challenges, and court rulings that ultimately upheld revised versions.

Supporters argue the bans enhance national security, while critics say they unfairly target individuals based on nationality.

The expanded restrictions now affect short-term visitors and immigrants alike, reinforcing the administration’s focus on security and strict vetting for foreign entry.

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